Cancer is characterized by the growth of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and have the ability to infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. Cancer is triggered by both external factors such as tobacco, chemicals, alcohol, infectious organisms, sun exposure and internal factors such as hormones, inherited gene mutations, immune conditions and abrupt mutations. Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body and has the ability to spread all over the body. Cancers are majorly solid tumors (tissue masses) and blood cancers (leukemia). There are more than 100 types of cancers such as lung cancer, colorectal, breast, blood cancers, etc. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. But survival rates have improved for many types of cancer due to continuous development of screening and treatment procedures. The most common cancer diagnostic methods are biopsy, sentinel node biopsy, endoscopy, blood tests, bone marrow aspiration, Pap test, sputum and bronchial washing analysis, imaging studies, genetic analysis, etc. The diagnosis of cancer involves collection of patient samples such as a cell or tissue or cells’ proteins, DNA, and RNA followed by detection of specific cancer.

Cancer Diagnostics Market: Drivers and Restraints

Cancer diagnostics market is witnessing high growth due to increasing prevalence and incidences of several types of cancers. Major drivers for the global cancer diagnostic market are technologically advanced and increasing point-of-care diagnostics, cost-effective treatment modalities, and personalized medicine. Additionally, increasing persistence to provide best-in-class healthcare services with high accuracy and efficiency towards patient is expected to fuel the global cancer diagnostics market across the globe. However, lack of adequate reimbursement policies for novel technologies and stringent regulatory procedures particularly for United States are the major factors that can hamper the global cancer diagnostics growth over the forecast period.

The global cancer diagnostics market has been classified on the basis of product, application, end use and geography.

Based on product type, the global cancer diagnostics market is segmented into the following:

Platform-based

Next-generation Sequencing

Microarrays

PCR

Flow Cytometry

In situ Hybridization

Immunohistochemistry

Others

Instrument-based

Imaging Instruments

MRI Scan

CT Scan

PET Scan

Ultrasound

Mammography

Biopsy

Bone marrow biopsy

Needle biopsy

Endoscopic biopsy

Endoscopy

Bronchoscopy

Colonoscopy

Sigmoidoscopy

Colposcopy

Tumor Biomarkers

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)

CTC (Circulating Tumor Cells)

AFP (Alpha-Fetoprotein)

BRCA (Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene 1)

KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog)

EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor)

HER2 ( Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2)

CEA (Carcino Embryonic Antigen)

ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Receptor Tyrosine Kinase)

CA 19-9 (Cancer Antigen 19-9)

CA 125 (Cancer Antigen 125)

Based on application type, the global cancer diagnostics market is segmented into the following:

Liver Cancer

Blood Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Kidney Cancer

Breast Cancer

Ovarian Cancer

Lung Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Other Cancers

Based on end use type, the global cancer diagnostics market is segmented into the following:

Hospitals

Diagnostic centers

Clinics

Home care

Cancer Diagnostics Market: Overview

North America was the key region in global cancer diagnostics market in terms of revenue in 2014, followed by Europe. The first FDA-cleared assay for breast cancer diagnosis was In Vitro Diagnostic Multivariate Index Assays (IVDMIA). The “MammaPrint” and “BluePrint” assays for breast cancer diagnosis and a microarray-based gene expression assay “ColoPrint” for predicting the recurrence of stage II and III colon cancer, has recognized the potential of cancer/tumor profiling in diagnostics and prognosis. This scenario is anticipated to revolutionize the cancer diagnostics companies and boost growth in global cancer diagnostics market in the coming five to 10 years. By product type, genomic biomarkers are dominating as compared to other product types in global cancer diagnostics market. For instance, GUARDANT360 blood test, next generation sequencing test ‘Cologuard’, Cobas HPV Test, and myRisk Hereditary Cancer multigene molecular diagnostic test are few examples of genomic biomarkers. By end use, hospitals and diagnostic centres segments held 50% share in the global cancer diagnostic market and the trend is forecast to continue through 2025. The altering regulatory consequences among the high growth countries of Asia Pacific is attracting the leading companies in the global cancer diagnostics market.